Apples2

When you are so happy about the way you feel that you could burst. When you can run the three sets of stairs in your house that used to be a killer to walk down or up, even slowly. When you beat the dog to the mailbox each day. When you get your entire house cleaned in one day instead of a couple of weeks. When the treadmill cannot tire you out no matter what setting you put it at. When overeating is that extra bite of talapia. I could go on and on...but you all get the idea!

Good job...wishing you luck on your lapband journey! All the best!

Call your doc and ask him...that would be your definate answer. You can guess what it would be. Not worth the risk...you really should stick to your doc's orders. Hope I am not sounding too harsh but you want your body and mind ready for that surgery.

There are quite a few people that do the 5-day pouch test to get them refocused and back on track. Also, get those trigger foods out of your house even if you need to throw them away. If it is your weakness, don't be exposed to it. I know one thing that really helped me during the weight loss stage was to journal EVERY morsel that I put in my mouth. I allowed so many calories and day and it made me accountable. Planning my meal menus a day or even a week ahead of time was a huge help also. Clean some veggies and have them in the frig ready to eat when you feel like snacking. Have a bowl of fruit ready to grab. Wishing you luck in getting back on track. Give yourself some credit...you KNOW you can do this. Just have the right things on hand to help get you steered the right direction.

Congrats on getting through all the steps and preparing yourself for this life-changing surgery. I have had many surgeries but was more nervous about this one than any other. (and this was the easiest one). I think it was because it was sooooo life changing. All I can tell you is that the surgery was a breeze. Take care of yourself...follow all of your doc's rules. Just keep in mind why you are doing this. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. There are many here to prove that. Keep us informed as to your date and how you are doing.

Just a few suggestions... As another poster said...take some time to pamper yourself when you feel your cravings are insurmountable. Go brush your teeth, read the daily paper, pour yourself a cup of coffee, tea or Crystal Lite. Grab a sugar free jello cup, take the dog for a walk, do a load of laundry...anything that takes your mind off of eating. I always have a bowl of celery, carrots and cukes all cut up and ready to grab....I know, not the most exciting thing to eat but does the trick. For my sweet craving, I also have a bowl of strawberries, cleaned and sprinkled with Splenda. I put these into the smaller Gladware cups in the serving size I eat. (about one cup).

Just jumping in to wish you good luck. Only advice I can give is to follow ALL of your doc's orders....i.e....food choice stages, exercise, etc. I can tell by your post that you are very enthusiastic about your decision to do the lapband.

My DH says he "hates" Greek yogurt but he does not know he eats it all the time. So much better for him (and me) than the others. Today I made him a version of banana cream pie. 1 small container of honey Greek mixed with DaVinci SF banana flavor poured over a banana and topped with Kashi Go Lean Crunch cereal. He raved. Some day I will disclose that he's been eating Greek yogurt for about 18 months now!

Would be nice if you had the support of your husband but you have the right frame of mind thinking about your health and what the added weight is doing to your body. I was banded June, 2008. I will be 54 in a month. My top weight was 249# and I am 5'6". When it got to the point where I was winded just walking 50 yards, I KNEW I had to do something. I could diet....but I just could not keep it off. I was ALWAYS hungry. I feel very fortunate to have taken off all of my excess weight and to have no complications whatsoever with the band. I was required to do a six month supervised diet prior to surgery (ins co required) and was able to drop 54lbs b/4 getting my band installed. Like I said...I can diet but keeping it off was always the thing I could not get. But, with taking off those lbs b/4 surgery, I could see the light at the end of the tunnel..I knew I would have the band to help keep them off...I just posted my first photos on this sight last night. Go take a peek in the b/4 and after thread. I feel so wonderful and could outrun an 19yr old (OK..haven't tried it but feel like I could). I am so active and just so very thankful I went ahead with the band. Good luck to you!

I make a pot of the steel cut oats and freeze in the one cup Glad portion containers. That way, I just have to defrost in the mircorwave and not cooking it on a daily basis. Always at my fingertips. I do as poster said above. SF maple syrup, raisins, 1/2 banana, mix a Tbls of peanut butter in it. I also eat Fiber One and Kashi cereals. They have protein, plus I get my fiber. Pure Protein bars and Myoplex Lite bars are great also. Turkey sausages with a little salsa to give them a kick, cottage cheese topped with mango salsa or fresh fruit.

I keep the little packets of Crystal Lite (I like the generic brands also and cheaper) in my purse and when I feel like having a drink I just order a tall Grey Goose Vodka and water. Mix my little drink and I am good to go!

Thanks for the recipe. Sounds great and by the looks of it has plenty of lean protein when using fat free option.

16 oz coffee brewed the way you like it 1 packet Swiss Miss Diet 25 cal cocoa mix 2 Tbls DaVinci or Torini Sugar Free Syrup (I use the caramel or hazelnut) For another 15 cals. top with 2 Tbls. FF Cool Whip Enjoy!

Great solid protein ideas. I have never gotten into the protein shakes and solid protein keeps a person feeling full for sometimes up to 4-5hours. I am on the run a lot and sometimes traveling at meal time. I carry "meals" and snacks in my truck for times like that. Worlds Kitchen beef jerky, dried edamame, dried soynuts, Pure Protein Bars and Myoplex Lite protien bars. The bars are a quick fit for getting protein but, beware, do not keep a person full for very long. I eat these for breakfast when I am tight. The soynuts and edamame fill me up just like solid protein does.

OMG...your blog page was sooooo hilarious. I, too, had lost some weight b/4 intitial visit (13lbs) and was so wishing I hadn't. I had to be BMI of 40 with comorbidities to qualify for ins. coverage for WLS. Lots of water on the way to appt and stuffed my face for 2 weeks b/4 for a amazingly small weight gain of just 1/2lb. The nurse let me "scrunch" a couple of inches when measuring my height. Love that girl!:thumbup:

My ins company's guidelines were the six month medically supervised diet. I did have record of previous attempts at taking off the weight but they insisted I wait the six months. At first I was ticked off. But, that wait I had really prepared me for the surgery. I no way wanted to wake up after surgery and feel like I had the "rug" yanked out from under me. My doc was great in insisting upon a weight loss with each monthly visit prior to surgery (I think mine was about 9 months from start to finish). I was able to lose over 50lbs during that period of time. I was asked the question all the time "If you can take it off on your own, why do the surgery". The answer I can give for that is; I could see the light at the end of the tunnel and knew that after having the LB I would be able to keep it off. Other attempts to lose weight were fruitless. Gain, take some off, get discouraged and put it back on, plus some. It is my understanding that ins companys take beginning weights that are documented by LB doc or personal physician at the onset of the process. Anyway, that's what my ins company did.

Took a look at your photos...you had great TT results. Congrats!

I went through that also...the last 15-20 seemed as if they were just never going to come off. But, you made it to goal and I wish for you to maintain and continue on your successful road. Think back a year ago...so lucky to be where you are at a year out. A BIG thumbs up. A question...did your PS doc have a problem with you having TT so soon during the weight loss process????

I take it that this question was intended for OP but can give you a few suggestions on what worked for me. First off, it's not easy but if you plan and really work on sticking to recommendations by your LB doc and not veer from his plan, you will be successful. Go into it all with the mind set that this WILL work. I cook massive amounts of food every day. We farm and I have a crew to feed during the farm season. I revamped most of my recipes to high Protein and low fat or fat free so that I could still sit at the table with everyone. I am also on the road a lot (farm errands) and there are times that I need to eat on the run. I always have a stash of food with me that will get me through. I never missed getting my 75gr of protein in a day. I always also made sure to get enough fiber in my diet to keep things going. I also never missed a day with journeling my food to hold me accountable. If I reached my max cals at 4pm, then I was done for the day. By doing this I learned to space things out to make my cals last for the day. Hope this helps:thumbup:

A big congrats on your success! You sound so happy and should be sooooooooooo proud of yourself. I know that I am happier and healthier than I have been in years and plan on staying that way. I am 54 and feel like I could run circles around any 19yr old!

As I said, Jen, be patient and see what comes of everything after a year's time. I do some weight training and think that really did help with putting the girls back up to where they are supposed to be. I never go without a bra (except for sleeping) and believe that it contributes also.

Boo Boo...My true self comes through and do not feel I am guarded when potraying what I have to say in a conversation. I share my feelings, my opinions and most generic things that are going on in my life. I just never want to share enough to be in that risk category. There are just some personal things...i.e. photos, name, city, etc. that I have as a rule not to share "out there". (See my signature line). We all have our opinions and the right to share them. Not everyone is going to agree with what a person has to say. But we should all have the common curtesy not to pick on a person or gang up on an individual. Unfortunately, it does happen and feel for those of you that it has happened to. The info provided in this thread is a heady reminder to all of what can (and does) happen. I have always appreciated how quickly our LBT moderators come to the surface and take care of business.

Susan...thanks for sharing the info. I have always been a little aprehensive about putting too much personal info "out there". Do we really know what someone would do with what we share? Nope, I think not. Whether it be with children or adults we all need to be careful how much is shared. Personally, LBT has been a great way for me to meet friends, compare life stories, etc. But, I only trust personal info through email after "knowing" someone for some time.

Sorry to hear about your mother's stroke. I hope she makes a full recovery. I will be 54 in less than 2 months and am so thankful I made the move to do something about my weight problem. Had numerous comorbidities, including extremely high blood pressure. I now could run circles around any 19 year old and do it day after day. I never thought going into this that I would actually feel this great. Again, wishing your mom the best in her recovery and congrats on your success as a lapbander!

To satisfy my crunch cravings and to curb the hunger I snack of dried edamame and soynuts. I just order them online from Amazon.com. Seapoint Farms Dry Roasted Edamame: 130 cals, 4g fat, 8g fiber, 14g protein per 1/4 cup Sensible Foods organic soy nuts: 110cals, 5g fiber, 8gprotein in an ounce I am on the road a lot and I also carry 1oz snack of Worlds Kitchen beef jerky...many flavors and also order on Amazon.com. I also break my snack down into the snack size bags. Also eat Pure Protein Bars and Myoplex Lite to satisfy my chocolate craving. Both from WalMart or Amazon